Vehicle body construction



Dec. 15, 1931. 1 STAHL 1,836,514

VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 28, 1922 3 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IF: 5'. R,

H5 1 um/WM DC. 15, 1931. j STAHL 1,836,514

VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 28 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 39 3+ 53 7 14 l9 illlllllllllllllllllhflii jllllllilllllllllEi 1 v mm|nmummmmlilllll I" I Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFKIE EDWARD J. S'I'AHL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO. ASSIGNOR TO THE BAKE R-RAULANG COM- PAN Y, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO vnnrcnn BODY CONSTRUCTION Application filedOctober 2a, 1922. Serial No. 597,667.

This invention relates to a vehicle body construction. In present body constructions of which I am aware, the arrangement of the seats and door or doors and the operating devices for the latter is such that relatively great effort is required for the person or persons occupying seats in the vehicle to opcrate the latches as well as to open the doors of the vehicle from the inside.

One object of the invention is to provide a vehicle body in which the door or doors may be unlatched and opened in a ready manner without the necessity of twisting the body or using undue physical effort. I V

Another object of the invention is toprovide an improved body construction in which the door latch operating devices and the seats are correlated to permit easy unlatching and opening of the doors, or each thereof, while maintaining standardized body construction as to length. spacing of the seats and. position and arrangement of the door or doors.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved door latchingmechanism in which provision is made for mounting the operating handle on the inside of the vehicle without affecting the appearance of the vehicle or the interior lining thereof. Another objection of the inventioiris to provide an improved vehicle door latching mechanism so constructed and arranged that as an entirety the mechamsm for controllmg the operating handle therefor may serve as the handle for closing the door.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to whichmy invention relates from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. wherein Fig. 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section. of a vehicle body embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of a door having my improved latch mechanism associated with it, the lining of the door being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. l is a fragmentary section of a door with elements of the latch mechanism in the positions which they occupy when the door is closed, as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5is a section on the line 55 of Fig. f and a fragmentary section of the frame and keeper with which the latch mechanism engages. I

Fig; 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the controlling handle in operated position and the latch withdrawn.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the operation of the latch by the exteriorhandle.

In the drawings, 1 indicates as-entirety a vehicle body of any desired construction. Theconstruction shown for illustrative pur poses comprises a'body of the sedan type pref: erably having front and rear doors 2, 2. The front door 2 is hinged to the body frame 1a along its front edge as shown at 2a; the rear door 2 is hinged to the body frame 10 along itsrear edge as shown at 2a this arrangement conforming to present day approved or standarized forms of body construction. 3 indicates the front seat the back of which, as shown, is approximately. in transverse alignment with the free edge of the do0r2. The seat 3 may be mounted on a post 3a, whereby it may be rotated so that the occupant may face rearwardly. 4 indicates the rear seat disposed rearwardly of the rear door 2 and remote from its free edge. 5 indicates the opening and locking of the front door and 6 indicates as an entirety the mechanism for controlling the opening and locking of the rear door, each v said mechanism including locking devices indicated as an entirety at 7. The controlling mechanisms 5, 6, are of similar construction, except as they are shaped for association with doors hinged along opposite edges; accordingly in the following description I will refer to one of these mechae nis'ms-that indicated at 5-and its operating means, which will be later described.

Of the controlling mechanism 5, 8 indicates a platesecured to the door frame in a well known manner and bridging a portion of a cutaway 9 formed in a transverse frame member 22; of the door frame to receive elements of the controlling mechanism and its operating means. The plate 8 is bent laterally to provide a front end wall 8a, formed with an opening 86 which forms a guide for the outer end of a latch 10. The latch 10 is adapted to engage the keeper 11 which is mounted in the frame stud 1a disposed between the doors 2, 2. 12 indicates a block projecting from the plate 8 and extending through an elongated opening 13 formed in the latch 10 near its inner end. The block 12 serves to guide the latch 10 in its movements. At its outer end the block 12 carries a disk or other suitable device 14 which extendsbeyond the walls of the opening 13 and thus holds the I latch on the block 12 in sliding, relationship to the inner face of the plate 8. The disks 14 may be held in position on the outer end of the block 12 by a screw 15. 16 indicates a shaft extending through openings formed in the door frame members 2?), 2c, and aligned openings in the plate 8 and a supplemental plate 8 The inner end of the shaft 16 is preferably non-circular in cross sect-ion to adapt it to an opening of similar shape in the.

hub 17 of an arm 17, whereby the latter may be turned. The hub 17 rotatably tits openings formed in the plates 8, 80, whereby the inner end of the shaft 16 may be suitably supported. The free end of the arm 17 is arranged to engage a projection 17a secured to the latch 10 to operate the latter rearwardly. For this purpose, the shaft 16 extends outwardly beyond the outer face of the door and has secured to it a handle 18 of suitable constr'uction. The outer end of the shaft 16 is rotatably mounted in a bearing plate 19 fixed to the door frame, preferably by screws 20. 21 indicates a lock slidably mounted in a casing 22 which fits an opening 9a formed in the frame member 25. One side wall of the casing 22 is provided with a pair of notches 23 into which a pawl 24, actuated by a spring 25, projects to hold the dog in an extended position (see dotted lines in Fig. 4) or in a retracted position (see Figs. 6 and 7 and full lines in Fig. 4). As shown in Fig. 4, the pawl 24 and spring 25 are mounted in a recess formed in the dog 21. WVhen the lock 21 is in retracted position, the latch 10 is free to be operated rearwardly, but when the dog 21 is in its operated or extended position, it is disposed in the path of movement of a lug 26 carried by the latch 10 and hence prevents rearward movement of Hm latter th reby latching the door. 27 indicates means normally tending to move the latch 10 outwardly. The means 27 preferably comprise a helical spring mounted in the recess or cutaway 9, its inner end being secured to the plate 8 by a pin 28 and its outer end bearing against the inner end of the latch 10 so that movement of the latch inwardly will put the spring 27 under tension.

The operating means for the latch 10 comprises an operating handle 29 and a connection 30 between the handle 29 and the latch 10, whereby the latter may be operated. The connection 30 is of suitable length so that the operating handle 29 may be positioned at the desirable and convenient point whereby the person occupying the adjacent seat may grasp the handle and unlatch the door readily and without undue physical effort. The connection 30 preferably comprises two members 31, 32, the latter beingmovable relative to the former, whereby the latch 10 may move independently of the member 31 and handle 29 for well known reasons. The member 31 preferably comprises a pair of plates 33, 33, each having its inner end bent laterally toward the other plate, as shown at 33a, 33a, and such ends are formed with openings. in al gnment with each other, to re ceive and slidably support the member 32. The plates 33, 33, are of different lengths so that their bent ends will be spaced from each other and thus support the member 32 at different points throughout its length. The inturned end for the shorter plate preferably serves to space the inner ends of the plates. 34 indicates elongated slots or openings formed in the plates 33, 33. As shown, the slots 34 extend from a point near the outer ends of the plates toward their inner ends. The purposes of the slots are 1) to permit the shank or shaft 35 of the operating handle 29 to extend therethrough and serve as a support and guide for the outer ends of the plates 33, 33, and (2) to provide a guide and seat for a cross member 36 which forms the connecting device between the members 31, 32. The cross member 36 engages the inner end walls of the slots 34, being held against displacement by flanges at its opposite ends. The cross member 36 is formed with an opening 37 through which the connection member 32 extends. The member 32 preferably comprises a bolt so that its free end may have screw threaded connection with the latch 1(lthereby permitting of adustment in the length of the connection 30- and its head may engage the cross member 36 and thus permit the pull on the connection exerted by the operation of the handle 29 to be transmitted to the latch 10, while permitting movement of the bolt 32 relative to the member 31 when the latch 10 is operated by the handle 18 or as a result of the closing of the door. 38 indicates an expansion spring arranged between the cross member 36 and the adjacent inturned end 33a and normally tending to maintain the.

cross member 36 against the head of the bolt 32. Accordingly. when the latch is moved inwardly incident to the operation of the handle 18 or by its engagement with the keeper due to the closing of the door, the member 32 will move relative to the member 31 and the cross piece 36 will slide on the walls of the slots 34 with the head of the the bolt 32 relative to the plates 31, 33, or

bolt 32 and thus support the inner end of the latter at all times. Furthermore, this arrangement will insure the engagement with the end walls of the slots 34 when the latch assumes its normal position. From the foregoing description it will be seen that the bolt head and cross member 36 serve to limit rela tive movement between the members 31, 32 in one direction so that the operating handle 29 may actuate the latch inwardly when it is rotated in either direction. The operating handle 29 may be operatively connected with the connection member 31 in any desired manner. In the illustrated form of construction I provide a plate 39 disposed between the plates 33, 33, and form in it a recess 40 to receive a pin or key 41 carried by the shank 35. The plate 39 is provided at its opposite sides with wings 42, shaped to form cams which engage rollers 43 supported between the outer ends of the plates 33, 33', on shafts 44. The shafts 44 preferably serve to support the outer ends of the plates 33, 33'. in spaced relationship, thus co-operating with the inturned ends 33a, 33a and the bolt 32 which extends therethrough to hold the plates parallel. By providing the plate 39 with two cams and the connection member 31 with two engaging members 43, it will be seen that the operating handle 29 may be moved in either direction, and when so moved it will act through one of the cams 42 and the adjacent roller 43 to move the connection 30 inwardly and effect disengagement of the latch 10 from the keeper 11.

From the foregoing description, it will be noted that the slots 34 of the plates 31, 33, permit the shank 35 to extend. therethrough so that the side walls of these slots have sliding engagement with the shank when the plates move inwardly (see Figv 6). As the rollers 43 engage the inner sides of the plate 39, it will be seen that the plates 31, are free to move inwardly independently of the shank 35 and its operating handle. Accordingly, if the cross member 36 sticks to the plates 31, 33, or becomes wedged against the walls of the slots, when the latch 10 is moved inwardly by reason of the operation of the handle 18 or closing of the door, the connection 30 will. be moved inwardly without effecting movement of the handle 29. It will thus be seen that inward operation of the latch can take place independently of the handle 29 either through the movement of movement of the latter relative to the shank 35.

When my invention is applied to the front door of the vehicle it not only permits the unlatching of the door without undue strain and physical exertion or twisting of the body of the person occupying the front seat but enables that person to readily swing the door on its hinges. From Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be seen that the operating handle is substantially at anarms length from the person occupying the front seat; hence the door may be operated in the following mannerfirst, the hand is raised and the handle 29 grasped and operated, and then the forepart of the arm is thrust against the door, and moved or swung outwardly, thereby swinging the door on its hinges. Accordingly it will be seen that in the vehicle body construction herein described I have provided a construction in which the door or doors may be unlatched and operated in a convenient and quick manner, and without any change in position of the occupants, particularly where the free edge of the door is arranged substantially in the plane of the seat back. It will be noticed that the connection 30 is of a length to provide for the positioning of the handle 29 sub stantially midway between the opposite side edges of the door and substantially in a plane which cuts the center of the seat 3. Accordingly if the seat 3 is rev rsed so that the occupant thereof faces rear (it being common in vehicle construction for the front seat to be mounted for rotation on a shaft, such as shown at 3a, whereby. the occupant may face rearwardly or forwardly at will). the operating handle 29 will still. be in position to permit the occupant to operate it in the manner described without undue physical effort or twisting of his body.

Sir

Where the latch or door controlling mechanism and its operating means is applied to the rear door of the vehicle body, it will be seen that the person occupying the rear seat may unlatch the door in a ready manner simply by leaning forwardly slightly. Likewise, where the front door 2 is hinged along its rear edge and its front edge swings relative to the body, the person occupying the front seat may readily operate the latch without changing his position or even leaning forward since the operating handle is within his reach, as-already described.

My construction has a further advantage in that eachoperating handle 29 may be used as the handle for closing the door on which it is mounted so that one handle serves the double purpose of unlatching the door and also closing it. Accordingly, by the use of my improved latch operating means, I am able to eliminate the ordinary handle which projects through the window ledge of each door and to therefore simplify the construction of the latter and leave it unobstructed.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I attain these important advantages without any changes in the length of the body, or position or construction of the seats or doors, except that required in the latter to receive and support the. latch mechanisms and the operating means therefor.

To those skilled in the art to which my in- \cntion relates many modifications and wide- 1:; diflerring embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. It will be understood that the disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. In mechanism for latching and unlatching a door, the combination of a latch, an opcrating handle, and a connection between said operating handle and said latch, said connection comprising a pair of plates having inturned ends formed with aligned openings, and operatively connected with said handle, a member extending through said openings and connected to said latch and a cross element engaging said plates and said member and limiting movement therebetween in one direction.

2. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a body and a door hinged thereto, of a latch for said door, an operating handle on the door at a point remote from said latch and mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, and relatively movable elenents between said latch and said handle arranged to transmit the movement of said handle to operate said latch, said operating means including a pair of relatively movable plates having flanges spaced from each other, a cross member, a rod engaging said cross member and a spring between said cross member and the adjacent flange, said flanges being formed with aligned openings through which said rod extends, whereby the plates are guided during their relative movement.

3. In mechanism for a Vehicle having a doorand a latch provided with a bevel headed sliding latch bolt, a control fixture positioned on the door at a point remote from the latch, operating means connecting said control fixture and latch, said operating means including a pair of relatively movable plates having flanges spaced from each other, a cross member, a rod engaging said cross member and a spring between said cross member and the adjacent flange, said flanges being formed with aligned openings through which said rod extends, whereby the plates are guided during their relative movement, and a combined latch operating and pull-to handle secured to the control fixture, said handle being designedly positioned to be easily accessible to the vehicle occupant, for retracting the latch bolt and swinging the door, the said operating connections allowing the handle to retract the latch bolt when turned but permitting the latch bolt to slide inwardly without afiiecting the handle.

4t. In mechanlsms for a vehicle having a door and a latch provided with aslidable latch bolt, a separate control fixture positioned on the door at a point remote transversely thereof from the latch, a combined latch operating and pull-to handle secured to said fixture and operating to close and latch the door by a direct perpendicular pull alone on the door, a draft connection directly connecting said control fixture and the bolt of said latch, said operating means including a pair of relatively movable plates having flanges spaced from each other, a cross member, a rod engaging said cross member and a spring between said cross member and the'adjacent flange, said flanges being formed with aligned openings through which said rod extends, whereby the plates are guided during their relative movement, said handle being designedly positioned relative to said adjacent seat to be easily accessible to the occupant thereof both as a latch operating and pull-to handle.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

EDWARD J. STAHL. 

